Judge orders Kennedy Center to pay $250,000 to performer who canceled show over addition of Trump’s name
A federal judge has ruled that the Kennedy Center must compensate a jazz musician for legal expenses following a contentious lawsuit. The ruling came after
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Judge Orders Kennedy Center to Pay Performer After Contract Dispute
Qwenews.com – A federal judge has ruled that the Kennedy Center must compensate a jazz musician for legal expenses following a contentious lawsuit. The ruling came after the performing arts institution sued Chuck Redd for canceling his scheduled performance in protest of adding President Donald Trump’s name to the venue. Judge orders Kennedy Center to pay more than $250,000 to cover Redd’s legal fees and other costs associated with the case. On Monday, Judge Tanya M. Jones Bosier issued the decision, giving the center 45 days to complete the payment.
Lisa Banks, Redd’s attorney, praised the outcome in a statement to CNN. “The Trump-controlled Kennedy Center tried to silence opposition to its illegal name change by filing a meritless lawsuit against jazz musician Chuck Redd,” Banks said. “The court rightly dismissed that breach of contract lawsuit, finding there was no contract and no damages, and was brought against Mr. Redd based on his protected opposition.” A Kennedy Center spokesperson confirmed the institution plans to appeal the ruling.
The Legal Battle Unfolds
The Lawsuit Begins
The Kennedy Center filed its lawsuit against Redd in March, claiming the performer breached his contractual obligations when he canceled his Christmas Eve show. The cancellation came just days after the board, handpicked by President Trump, voted to rename the building to honor the former president. According to the center’s legal team, Redd’s decision forced them to cancel the Christmas Eve Jazz Jam concert at the last minute.
“As a result of Defendant Redd’s malfeasance, the Center was forced to cancel the Christmas Eve Jazz Jam concert at the last minute, depriving hundreds of members of the public the Christmas Concert offered by the Center, and causing the Center reputational, marketing, and concert preparation damages,” a center lawyer wrote in the filing.
Court’s Favorable Ruling
In June, Judge Jones Bosier, a Biden appointee, dismissed the Kennedy Center’s case. The judge determined that the institution failed to establish a valid breach of contract claim because Redd never signed a formal agreement before canceling his performance. This decision marked a significant victory for the performer and set the stage for the current ruling on legal fees.
What Happened After the Ruling
Following the court’s decision, Trump’s name was removed from both the exterior of the Kennedy Center building and its official website. Redd, who has hosted the holiday jazz concert for nearly twenty years, expressed his disappointment with the renaming process. “I was saddened to see this name change,” Redd told CNN in December after the board’s vote.
After Redd withdrew from the performance, then-Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell sent a letter criticizing the performer’s decision. Grenell, a longtime Trump confidant, wrote that Redd’s withdrawal was “classic intolerance and very costly to a non-profit Arts institution.” The letter specifically referenced the center’s efforts to honor President Trump’s contributions.
Grenell was replaced as the institution’s head in March. CNN previously reported that several other artists also pulled out of shows following the renaming, including the jazz group the Cookers, the dance company Doug Varone and Dancers, and folk singer-songwriter Kristy Lee. The center additionally experienced declining ticket sales during the holiday season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Chuck Redd cancel his performance? Redd canceled his Christmas Eve show in protest of the Kennedy Center board’s decision to add President Trump’s name to the venue’s official designation.
How much money is the Kennedy Center ordered to pay? The center must pay more than $250,000 to cover Redd’s legal fees and related expenses following the court’s ruling.
Will the Kennedy Center appeal the decision? Yes, a spokesperson for the institution confirmed that they intend to appeal the judge’s ruling.
What happened to Trump’s name at the Kennedy Center? After the legal proceedings, Trump’s name was removed from both the building’s exterior and the center’s website.
CNN’s Aleena Fayaz and Piper Hudspeth Blackburn contributed to this report.
